HSI India works to protect egg-laying hens

Across India, approximately 200 million laying hens live their lives in small, wire cages. India is the world's third largest egg-producing country with at least 70% of its eggs coming from commercial farmers who confine their hens in barren battery cages. These cages are so small that each bird has less space than an A4 sized sheet of paper, spending their entire lives confined. Humane Society International India (HSI India) has achieved an important victory for these egg-laying hens. They have successfully persuaded the majority of Indian states, including the top egg-producing states, to declare that treating hens this way violates the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960 that requires animals confined to cages be provided with reasonable opportunity for movement.

The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and most Animal Husbandry departments have advised all state governments and poultry farmers that battery cages should not be used and existing ones should be phased out by 2017. HSI India has been following up with all the state Animal Husbandry departments in the country convincing them to issue a directive that it is a violation of the PCA Act to confine hens to battery cages. Accordingly, most of them have told their officers and poultry farmers to phase out or avoid battery cages and stay vigilant against new cage facilities. Enforcement remains a concern, however, HSI India will continue to do what they must to ensure that intensive confinement of laying hens is brought to an end. HSI India are also working with the Government of India to end this practice in the remaining parts of the country and bring in regulations for rearing egg-laying hens in India as recommended by AWBI.